College Participation Rates

Percent of high school graduates enrolling in college directly out of high school

In 2014, 69 percent of Minnesota's public high school graduating class of 2014 attended a postsecondary institution the following fall either in Minnesota or elsewhere.

50 percent enrolled in Minnesota

19 percent enrolled out of state

The rate includes students enrolling in Minnesota and out of state and at all types of colleges from vocational two-year to four-year. College enrollment rates leave out students not graduating from high school.

Students Choose a Variety of Colleges

Postsecondary institutions in states bordering Minnesota were popular choices for Minnesota high school graduates enrolling out of state.

Where Minnesota Public Graduates Enrolled in Minnesota, 2014

28,826 Minnesota public high school graduates attended 121 Minnesota institutions

Source: Statewide Longitudinal Education Data System

Top Choice Institutions for 2014 Minnesota High School Graduates Attending a Minnesota College in Fall 2014

Top 10 Minnesota colleges shown.

Source: Minnesota Office of Higher Education

Where Minnesota Graduates Enrolled Out of State, 2014

13,277 Minnesota public and private high school graduates attended 884 out-of-state institutions.

Source: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS Enrollment Survey

Border State Institutions Were Top Choice for 2014 Minnesota High School Graduates Attending College Out of State in Fall 2014

Top 10 out-of-state colleges shown.

Source: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS Fall Enrollment Survey

Participation Rates of Minnesota Public High School Graduates, 2007-2014

Source: Statewide Longitudinal Education Data System

Class of 2014 Minnesota public high school graduates enrolled in college (in Minnesota or out of state) in fall 2014

Source: Statewide Longitudinal Education Data System

Participation Rates by Race/Ethnicity and Income

New data shows participation rates by primary home language spoken, free or reduced-price lunch enrollment and out-of-state enrollment by the above characteristics of Minnesotas public high school graduates and their race/ethnicity.

White and Asian public high school graduates enrolled in Minnesota postsecondary institutions at rates higher than other populations. Since there are large gaps in Minnesota public high school graduation rates by race/ethnic background even less students who are American Indian, Black and Hispanic attend college than their White and Asian younger aged peers.

Nationally, immediate enrollment in college also varies by race and ethnicity. Of the 3 million high school graduates in 2013, 66 percent, enrolled in college the following fall. White student college enrollment (67 percent) was higher than the rate for those who were Black (57 percent). The national rate for those who were Hispanic (66 percent) was similar to White students. The immediate college enrollment rate for Asians (81 percent) was higher than the rates for Whites, Blacks, and Hispanics in 2013 and in each year since 2003.

Family income also shows large differences in college participation. Income of public high school graduates is measured by whether the student enrolled in free or reduced-price lunch at any time during high school. College participation rates for high school graduates not receiving free or reduced-price lunch was 26 percent higher than students who received free or reduced-price lunch.

College enrollment gaps by family income are also reported nationally. The college participation rate for high school graduates from high-income families (80 percent) was 31 percentage points higher than the rate for those from low-income families (49 percent).

About Participation Rates

College participation rates are defined as the number of high school graduates enrolling in a postsecondary education institution the fall after high school graduation. Participation rates are calculated by dividing the number of Minnesota high school graduates by the number attending a Minnesota or out-of-state postsecondary institution the fall following their year of high school graduation.

Data was provided by the Minnesota Statewide Longitudinal Education Data System (SLEDS), managed jointly by the Office of Higher Education (OHE), Minnesota Departments of Education (MDE) and Employment and Economic Development (DEED). Data on Minnesota public high school graduating classes were linked with fall term Minnesota Office of Higher Education college enrollment data and full year enrollment data from the National Student Clearinghouse.

Public high school graduate data are obtained from the Minnesota Department of Education. Student demographic characteristics, including primary home language spoken at home, were as reported at the time of high school graduation. Students graduating from high school delaying college entry past the fall following high school graduation are not included in the participation rate.